Lineman bypasses in-state program, commits to Vandy

Justin Skule could have stayed home and played for Virginia–but the allure of Vanderbilt and the SEC won out.

Skule is a 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive tackle out of Clifton (Va.) and is rated a three-star prospect. Besides the offers from Virginia and the Commodores, he also had options at West Virginia and Rutgers and Navy wanted him to come into its program. Harvard also wanted him.

“I loved the high level of academics and the high level of football playing in the SEC, plus the campus facilities and coaching staff were awesome,” Skule told The Washington Post. “I knew that was the school I wanted to be, so I wanted to commit so the coaches would know and so I can focus on winning another state championship.”

Skule was a blocker for a Centreville H.S.’s rushing attack that produced 3,458 rushing yards and 57 touchdowns as it went on to a state championship. Vandy now has six commitments for the 2015 class.

Editor’s note: Saturday Down South’s references to ratings follow the 247Sports.com composite rankings for high school prospects.